Stay fit!

Pärnu is a green city: one fifth of the entire city is covered with parks, greenery, avenues and other green areas. To expand the facilities for physical activity, several marked health tracks have been established near the beach: 2.8 km and 2.9 km. Next to the latter (a track in the beach park), an outdoor fitness ground will be opened in spring 2013.

Pärnu is a sufficiently compact city for convenient bicycling around. Several light traffic roads have been established and many more are being planned. Even if there are no special roads around, you can still complete your ride, since the traffic is rarely too heavy. After you have tried out the health tracks in the city, you should go for the attractive ones in the outskirts. There is a 2.8 km long Tammiste RMK walk in the immediate vicinity of the City of Pärnu. Whereas in the Reiu-Raeküla lovely pinewoods, the fans of recreational sport can use the 3, 5 and 10 km long tracks. When it’s dark outside, one can practice on a 3 km illuminated track.

More movement into each day!Pärnu city physician Ada Kraak: “The human body is created to move and needs regular physical activity to remain healthy. This way one can avoid excess weight and numerous chronic diseases. Physical exercise comes not only from sports, but also from everyday activity (gardening and cleaning works, etc.). In addition, everyone who cares about his or her health should also engage regularly in recreational sports. This could be walking, bicycling, Nordic walking, jogging and much more. The activities do not have to be complicated and everyone can pick the most agreeable one. For less active people, a lively walk or Nordic walking will also provide sufficient exercise for the time being. For more active and conditioned people, jogging or brisk walking is recommendable. In order to ensure bodily ability one should exercise about one hour at least 4-5 times a week at such a pace that causes slight panting. To prevent cardiac diseases, a lively pace for at least 30 minutes a day for 5-7 days each week is suitable. With the designing of the city environment, everyone is provided an opportunity to be physically active. There are several health tracks and light traffic roads in Pärnu and its immediate vicinity, from which everyone can definitely find a suitable one. More movement into each day!” Pärnu is a founding member of the Estonian Healthy Cities Network. Since 2001, Pärnu has also participated keenly in the activity of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. This has given the city experience in several development-related areas and created the opportunity to also gain knowledge and experience from the other European cities. The effective health-promoting activity of Pärnu on the international level has also been recognised with a letter of acknowledgement.